Embroidery machine



Jan. 31, 1933. J. HUNTBACH EMBROIDERY MACHINE Filed March 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 31, 1933.

J. HUNTBACH EMBROIDERY MACHINE Filed March 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1933 um'rso STATES PATENT omcs JAMES HUHTBAGH, ,0! NOTTINGHAM, ENGIiAND' m MACHINE sp ms tied na'rcn 7, 1080, semi 1%. 454,078,, and n Great Britain November 2:, 1929.

This invention comprises improvements in or relating toeinbroidery machines and refers to that type of machine wherein needles projecting at intervals from a carrier bar are 5' operated to move to and fro and pierce the fabric to be embroideied, thteadshnttl'es being' associated to produoe with the needles the istedin that when it is desired to change the arn to be used in the pattern it has been necessary to remove from the needles the yarn threaded therethrough and re-thread such needles with the fresh yarn. This op oration necessitates a considerable loss of time, While in addition a considerable amount of the yarn extendin to each needle is away and wasted.

Further, when in said existing machine it is'desired to vary the range of the machine,

needles from the carrier bar, and a considerable amount of yarn wastage is again inevita'ble;

An object of the present inventioniis tofu:

cilitate and'e'xpedite considerably the opera tion of changingthe yarn with which rembroidering is being e acted and el. minste yarn wastage. I a I H Another Object of the invention is to in- 1iiachines,,while a further object is to increase the range of patterns capable of being roduced on such machines and to enable a change in the dimensions of the pattern to be eifect-ed' without removal of the needles or riers. I H

Awarding to the resent invention an embroidery machine is provided wherein a pro portion or fraction of the full complement displacement of same relatively to their car-.

i. e. the size of thepattern embroidered-, it has been neeessary to remove certam'ot the crease the speed of operation of embroidery of needles can be moved into and out of operation as required Without displacing any of said needles relatively to the carryi" means therefor, thus enabling either a fufi complement or only a partof thefull complement of needles to be employed at anytime. Another feature of the invention resides in the rovision of a plurality of needle carrier ars eachcariiyin'g a proportion of the full, complement of needles together with 6i) means for selectively bringing into operation any one or more of the bars as required.

Another feature of the present invention consists in the revision of means, more fully described hereinafter, for imparting motion 65 either inde' endently or collectively to the plurality o needle bars, and'for appl "ng tension to the yarn fed to the needles 'of tne needle bar independently of that applied to ghe yarn fed to the needles of another needle 76 ar. a 1

For the purpose of more fully describin "the natureof this invention reference wil now be made to the accompanying draw ings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation through part of a machine in accordance with this invention. I

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1. I

Fi re 3 is a plan view illustrating a 80 modi cation;

igurewl illustrates in sectional and elev'ation means for linking up two sets of needle operating bars.

Fi are 5 illustrates a method braking action to threadtensioning'rollers.

In one inethod of carrying out the invention, a machine will be described inployin two needle carrierbars 1 and 2, and in sue arrangement said bars are located one ove'r the other, the upper bar 1 having at predetermined intervals along its length plurality of slots 1a into which project upwardly extending ortions 2a on the second and lower bar 2. e needles appertaining to the lower bar2 are connected to and pr0 ect forward- 1y from the upwardly projecting portions 2a accommodated in the slots'la in the up er bar 1 while the needles of said upper bar 1 I are (withettd thereto at ositions between of applying 85 the needles of the lower bar, that is to say, the needles of one bar alternate with those of the other bar and are advantageously spaced equally along the bars, the whole of the needles lying in the same horizontal plane.

The necessary to and fro motion of the upper bar 1, which will be described as the main needle bar, is transmitted from the customary operating shaft 3 by means of a crank arm 5-a thereon and a link 30 connected thereto. Motion is imparted to the shaft 3 first in one direction and then in the other in the well known manner. For imparting the to and fro motion to the lower needle bar 2, which will be described as the additional bar, a second operating shaft 4 is provided, and means are provided whereby motion transmitted to the main needle b ar operating shaft may also be communicated to the operating shaft of the additional needle bar so that both bars 1 and 2 are simultaneously operated. Additionally means are provided whereby the main needle bar operating shaft 3 is dis connected from the additional needle bar operating shaft 4 and by so doing movement is transmitted only to the main needle bar 1. In this latter case the main. needle bar 1. moves relatively to the additional needlebnr 2, the

\ slots 1a in the main bar accommodating the l ing shaft 4.

needle-carrying projections 2a of the additional bar being sufiiciently large to permit this relative movement.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 an arm 5 projecting from a sleeve or boss 6 fixed on the main shaft 3 and rotating therewith is adapted to be connected by link 7 to a second arm 8 projecting from asleeve 9 fixed to the additional needle bar operat- A further arm 8a on sleeve 9 applies motion to the bar 2. The shaft 3 is divided in its length, the two parts being suitably coupled as at 10.

When the two thread bars 1, 2 require to i be driven simultaneously, the arm 5 is positively connected to the link 7 by a pin, bolt or the like ll. When only the main needle bar 1 is to be driven, the pin 11 is removed and the link 7 is disconnected from the arm 1 5 by a spring 12 which may be carried by a stationary upstanding arm 13 extending from a bearing 14 for the main shaft 3.

When, however, only the additional needle bar 2 is to be operated, the coupling 10 is disconnected and the two shafts 3, 4: are linked for simultaneous motion by inserting the pin 11.

From the above it will be appreciated that when it is desired to change the yarns in the 1, after which the additional bar 2 is brought into operation and the pattern repeated or another part of same produced by the different yarn fed to the needles thereof, thus no changing of yarn in the needles is required.

Further, by moving one set of needles out of operation the size of pattern produced can be increased without necessitating displacement of any needles from the needle bar.

A further important advantage over existing machines gained by the employment of the present invention is that different sized needles can be employed for operating with yarns of different thickness, the needles of one carrier bar stitching with comparatively thick yarnand those of another bar with comparatively thin yarn. In this way it will be appreciated anembroidered design can be made which is composed ofa heavy understitched part of thick yarn and a surface stitching of comparatively fine yarn.

When employing a machine of the existing one-bar type for producing a pattern whereina pluralityof different yarns is utilized, the disadvantages exists in that during the time the machine is standing idle for the purpose of removing one set of yarns and re-threading the needles, the fabric upon which embroidering is being effected becomes somewhat distorted; therefore, when the pattern is repeated or another part of the pattern produced by the second yarn, the lines of embroidered stitches on the fabric produced subsequent to the yarn change do not coincide with or appear in exact required position relatively to the lines of stitches produced by the first yarn. This disadvantage is, however, obviated by the employment of the present invention wherein the speedy change from one yarn to another does not permit of the distortion of the fabric. Further, comparatively small portions of a complete pattern can be produced without necessitating the completion of the full pattern before changing the yarn.

The drive to the needle bar operating shafts is eflected through suitable link or lever mechanism from a single cam or equivalent device. For example, a crank arm 15 fixed to the main bar operating shaft 3 may have connected thereto a part carrying a truck or roller 16 (Figure 4) which runs in a cam groove 17 in a disc 18 fixed to the main drive shaft 19 of the machine.

The invention also includes means whereby patterns can be produced embodying long stitches which have been impossible on the machine as heretofore constructed; and in this connection it will be appreciated that the fabric can only be moved during the comparatively short space of time that the needles are withdrawn therefrom, therefore on existing machines when a long stitch is required it is necessary to form same of a succession of short stitches.

V In this invention, however, means are pro.-

vided whereby the period during which the needles are held out of the fabric can be varied, thereby enabling a part of a design to be spanned by a single long stitch where hitherto a series, of shorter stitches would be necessary. Thus a more solid appearance is given to the embroidered design.

Conveniently the long stitches are pro duced by the needles of the additional needle bar, and to accomplish this the link 7 (Figures 1 and 2) is provided with a slot 20 adapt ed, when the pin or bolt 11 is-removed, to be moved into and out of engagement with a pin or projection21' on the arm 5 moving with that part or section of the shaft 3 to which drive is transmitted. The spring 12 normally holds the'pin 21 and slot 20 out of engagement so as to cause drive to be trans mitted only to the shaft 3. a

A treadle or equivalent lever device is suitably connected to an extension of the link 7 said treadle being operable to pivot said link and move said pin and slot 21, 20 into enga ement.

t will be appreciated, there-fore, that motion is transmitted only to the additional bar 2 by uncoupling the coupling 10 between the sections of shaft 3 and bringing into engagement the pin and slot connection between the link 7 and arm 5. When, therefore, long pantograph stitches are required. the treadle or the like is o erated to couple the two bars 3, 4 at each end of a stitch only.

If desired means similar to that just previously described may be provided for elaying the motion of either or both the main or/and the additional needle bar.

In one method of accomplishing this (see Figure 3) the shaft3 may be connected to shaft 4 by a linking-up deviceembodying an arm 5 fixed to the shaft 3, a bifurcated arm 8 fixed to shaft 4 and a connecting link 22 which is connected tothe said bifurcated arm 8 by a removable pin 23. The shaft 3 is in this arrangement com sed of three sections 3, 3a and 3b. the coupling 10 before-described being provided for connecting together the sections 3a, 3b and a friction clutch 24 being. provided for connecting and disconnecting at the production of long stitches. the pin 23 is moved from the link device connecting together the shafts 3 and 4 and the treadle is operated to move the friction clutch 24 into the engaged position at each end of a stitch.

If, however, it is desired to embroider with.

both needle bars 1 and 2 in operation and to produce long pantograph stitches on both of said bars, the twooperating shafts 3, 4- are connected for simultaneous movement by the insertion of pin 23 and the treadle operated to connect and disconnect the friction clutch 2411s and when desired. By disconnecting the coupling 10 between the shaft sections 311 3b and retaining the pin 23 in position to couple together the shafts 3 and 4, it will be wherein embroidering is effected on two or more pieces of fabric simultaneously, the frames carrying said fabric pieces being located one above the other, and needle bars 1, 2 with shafts 3, 4 and other operating mechanism as before described being provided in connection with each piece of fabric. In

such arrangement simultaneous operation of V the main needle bar operating shaft 3 of each set may be accomplished by linking to gether said shafts with one or more links 25 and crank arms 15 and 26 as shown in Figure 4. The additional needle bar operating shafts 4 may also be similarly connected forsimultaneous motion by links 27 and crank arms 28. y The yarns extending to the needles of the main needle bar 1 (or bars)*are suitably ten- 1 sioned by passing same over one or more cloth-covered or similar rollers 29 to which a suitablebraking action may be imparted advantageously by rotating same in an opposite direction to the traverse of the yarn. The yarns extending to the needles of the ad ditional bar 2 may be passed'o'ver one or more similar cloth-covered or equivalent rollers or members 30, the rotation of which may be retarded by adjustable spring influenced means. I I

These braking means may comprise a band 31 extending over the two rollers 30, the two ends of said band being connected by springs 32 and adjustable screw coupling 33, it being understood that the manipulation of the screw coupling 33 varies the tension or pull exerted by the springs 32 and consequently the braking action on the roller. The existing hand rail in front of the known type of machine may be utilized for applying tension to the threads of the additional needle bar, said rail being preferably covered with cloth or the like.

a The yarns extending to both sets of needles carried by the two bars 1, 2 may also extend over other bars or. rods 34 which are customarily provided on embroidery machines and to which an oscillatory or rocking motion'is imparted so as to effect a drawing off of the yarns from the supply bobbins and a desired, consist of the borer bar which is at present employed on existing embroidery mamoved therefrom. The operating shaft for the borer bar may in this case be employed as the operating shaft for the additional needle bar.

I claim of needle carrier bars, needles carried thereon all lying in one plane, a main drive shaft, connecting elements between said drive shaft and each of the needle carrier bars, means 1 for disconnecting any one of said connecting elements from the drive shaft for selective reciprocation of the needle carrier bars and means to couple all of the connecting elements to the drive shaft for simultaneous reciprocation of all of said needle carrier bars. a

k 2. In an emboridery machine, two needle bars each carrying a proportion of the full complement of needles, one needle bar being disposed beneath the other, slots in the upper needle bar, projections on the lower needle bar extending up into the slots in said firstnamed bar, said projections carrying needles which lie in the same plane as and alternate with the needles in the upper bar, two needle bar operating shafts one appertaining to each bar, means for imparting rocking motion to one of said operating shafts, a lmk device for a connecting together the two operating shafts, means for simultaneously imparting rocking motion to said shafts, said rocking motion being converted into a backward and forward motion at the needle bars, and means for dr1v ing only one of the needle operating shafts so as to impart motion to only one of the needle bars when desired.

3. In an embroidery machine, two needle bars each carrying a proportion of a complete row of needles, said needles extending in one horizontal plane, two needle bar operating shafts one appertaining to each needle bar, one operating shaft constituting a main shaft having imparted thereto a rocking motion, the second operating shaft being linked to said main operating shaft for simultaneous rocking movement, means for con only to the main operating shaft and the needle bar operated thereby by disconnecting the link between the two operating shafts and connecting the said coupling between the main shaft sections, a clutch provided in the main operating shaft, and means for operating said clutch at predetermined intervals so as to throw into and out of opeartion the needle bars for predetermined periods so as to enable long pantograph stitches to be produced.

4:. In an embroidery machine a plurality of needle carrier bars, needles secured to said carrier bars, a main drive sh aft for applying 1. In an embroidery machine a plurality reciprocatory motion to said needle carrier bars, a crank arm on said main shaft, a permanent connection leading from said crank arm to one of the reciprocating needle carriers, a second crank arm on said main shaft, a link for communicating motion from said second crank arm to another needle carrier bar and means for disengaging said link from said second crank arm.

5. In an embroidery machine a plurality of needle carrier bars. needles secured to said carrier bars, a' rocking shaft serving to apply reciprocatory motion to selected of said reciprocating needle carrier bars, apermanent connection between a crank arm on said rocking shaft and one of the said needle carrier bars, a further crank arm on said rocking shaft, a pivotally mounted link adapted to engage said further crank arm and means for disengaging said pivotal link from said further crank arm to render the appertaining needle carrier bar inoperative.

6. In an embroidery machine a plurality of needle carrier bars each adapted to be independently reciprocated towards and away from the Work, a rocking shaft to which drive is applied and serving to apply reciprocatory motion to one of the needle carrier bars by means of a permanent connection, a second rock shaft operated from said first mentioned rock shaft, said second rock shaft embodying a projecting arm adaptedto apply reciprocatory motion to another needle carrier bar, a crankarm on said second rock shaft, a pivotal link carried on said arm, a slot in said pivotal link, a second crank arm upon the main rock shaft, a stud on said second crank arm and means for displacing said pivotal arm to disengage said slot from said stud whereby the said second rock shaft and its.

associated needle carrier bar can be maintained inoperative when desired.

7 In an embroiderymachine, two needle carrier bars, the needles appertaining to one carrier bar alternating with those of the other carrier bar, means for supporting said carrier bars while permitting individual reciprocatory movement thereof, a main rock shaft, an arm projecting from said rock shaft, a connecting link leading between said arm and one of said needle carrier bars, a

second rock shaft, an arm projecting fromsaid second rock shaft and serving to apply reciprocatory motion to the second needle carrier bar, a further arm projecting from said second rock shaft, a pivotally mounted link associated with said further arm, a second crank arm on the main rock shaft, a projecting stud on said second crank arm, a slot ins-aid pivotal link adapted to engage the projecting stud on the second crank arm associated with the main drive shaft and manually operable means for raising said link out of engagement with said stud.

8. In an embroidery machine a plurality of needle carrier bars, needles mounted thereon, means for supporting said needle carrier bars to permit reciprocation thereof, a main drive shaft, a disconnectible coupling associated with said drive shaft, a permanent connecting link associated with a crank arm on the driven side of said coupling and serving to apply reciprocatory movement to one of said needle carrier bars, a further crank arm on the driving side of said coupling, a disconnectible connection associated with said further crank arm and adapted to apply reciprocatory movement to anotherneedle carrier bar and means for operating said disconnectible connection. 9. In an embroidery machine two needl carrier bars, one needle carrier bar having slots Within which projecting elements of the other needle bar are adapted to pass, needles carried on said carrier bars, the needles associated with one bar alternating with'the needles associated with the other bar, means for supporting said needle bars and permitting individual sliding movement thereof, a main drive shaft to which a rocking motion is applied, a coupling associated with said main shaft, a crank arm on the driven'side' of said coupling, a permanent connection leading from said crank arm to one of said needle car-' rier bars, a second rock shaft, a crank arm on said second rock shaft serving to apply reciprocatory movement to the second needle carrier bar, a further crank arm for reciprocating said second rock shaft, a pivotal link association withsaid further crank arm, a second crank arm on said main rock shaft and on the driving side of the coupling thereon, a stud on said second crank armand manneedle carrier bar from the second rock shaft,

as mentioned reciprocating needle carrier "being-taken from the driven side of"sai'd flange coupling, means for reciprocatingthe r "second rack shaft from the main rock shaft time with said two earner bars, the needles ei one alternating with the needles ofv the other bar, means for supporting said nee-v die carrier and permitting individual re- 'cipro'cator'y movement thereoffa main drive shaft to whicha motion is applied, a 'fian e coupling in the length of said rock 'sha t-,-a crank arm on the driven "side of said flange coupling, "a -permanently connected link associated 'With said crank armand'serving to transmit "reciprocatory inotion to one needle em-ierbaaka second crank arm on,

the driven side of said flange coupling, a pivotal link associated with said crank arm, asecond rook shaft, *a cran-k arm carried on said second shaft, means for cansingdriving engageme t between said pivotal link opermed the main drive shaftand the crank arm on said second rock shaft, a further crank arm "on said second rock shaft serving rea ply reciprocator'y movementto thefothe'r needle-carrier ha r and a clutch associated with the main rock shaft serving to disconneat thaw-Hole 'o'fthe operative mechanism.

12. 1am embroidery machine, a plurality etnedle earrier barsmeedles mou'nted'the eon, means for reciproca'ting'said bars i'ndividually, means for supplying thread to "said needles, means forapplym tension to said threads, agree-k shaft, a crank-arm on: said rock sham-a permanent link leading said crank ammo one of "said needle carrier b a is, 'a second drank arm on said rock shaft, a disconnectible link adaptedto be engaged withsaidsecoiad crank arm and means whereby said-link' is'adapted to apply reciprocato'ry movement to another needle carrier bar engaged with said'secondcrank arm. 1

J 13'. In jam embroidery machine, a plurality *Qf "needle carrier ba ts, needles associated therewith, the needles -associated"with one bar alternating with those associated with the other and lying substantially in the same plane, means for supplying thread to said needles, a piaialityofrods round which the'thread is passed tosa'id needles, frictionalthread tensioning means over which the I thread passes on its way to said needles, a main rock shaft, a secondary rock shaft, crank arms associated with both of said rock shafts each serving to apply reciprocatory movement individually to one of said needle carrier bars, means for operating said secondary rock shaft from said main rock shaft and means for uncouplingsaid secondary rock shaft.

14. In an embroidery machine, two needle carrier bars, needles carried thereon the needles of one bar alternating with those of the other bar and lying substantially in the same plane, means for supplying thread to saidneedles, a plurality of bars around which the threads pass to said needles in a sinuous path, a plurality of cloth covered rollers over which the threads pass to said needles, a main rock shaft, a disconnectible coupling in the length of said main rock shaft, a crank arm on the driven side of said main rock shaft, a permanent link leading from said crank arm to one of said needle carrier bars, a second rock shaft, means for applying motion from said second rock shaft to the other needle carrier bar, a crank arm on said secondary rock shaft, a pivotal link attached to said crank arm, a slot in said link, a further crank arm on the driving side of said main rock shaft, a stud carried on said crank arm and means for causing said slot to engage said stud. V v

15. In an embroidery machine, a plurality ofneedle carrier bars, a main rock shaft, means for applying oscillatory motion to said rock shaft, a crank arm associated with said main rock shaft serving to apply motionto one of said needle carrier bars, a secondary rock shaft, means for causing said secondary rock shaft to apply motion to another of said needle carrier bars, a disengageable connecting link between said main and said secondary rock shafts, a duplicated set of needle carrying and operatingmechanism including duplicated main and secondary rock shafts and means for operatin said duplicated main and secondary roc shafts in unison with the directly driven a set, said means comprising uprightly extending connecting rods connected between crank arms on said upper and lower sets of rock shafts. a

16. An embroidery machine having the combination of parts specified in claim 15 including also means for supplying threads to the needles, friction rollers over which the thread passes on its way to said needles and means for simultaneously tensioning the upper and lower sets of friction rollers, said means comprising a band passing over said upper and lower sets of rollers and including a screw coupling and spring means serving to apply tension to said band.

JAMES HUNTBACH. 

